97 mph

[DEADEYE DICK]

Coming at you.

The nations #1 draft choice Stephen Strasburg pitching for the Nationals against the Astros in a instructional league game at the Astros complex in Kissimmee yesterday.
I was standing in the photographers well behind home plate and over heard the scouts with radar guns sitting behind me telling each other how fast this kid was throwing.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/Gonzo126/straus1.jpg

.http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/Gonzo126/straus2.jpg

.http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/Gonzo126/straus3.jpg

.http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/Gonzo126/straus4.jpg

.http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/Gonzo126/straus5.jpg

[Keith Yates]

Nice changeup.

[DEADEYE DICK]

Funny you say that.
I took about 150 pictures yesterday after I took this series of pictures I heard the scouts behind me say 97 mph so I took a picture of my feet to remind myself the pix before my feet were the 97 mph ones.
I thought the grip in the 2nd picture looked kinda like a change up or maybe he just has really big fingers ???
Either that or somebody needs to buy a new radar gun

[snookduck]

That looks like a two seam fastball. If he can actually throw it 97 and keep it around the strike zone that would be impressive. Most guys can throw the four seam or cross seam about 10% faster than the two seam. The two seam tends to tail and depending on the arm angle will drop like a curve ball just not as dramatically.

[DEADEYE DICK]

Along with the 97 he had a knee buckling hammer that sent guys back to the dugout crying for their mommies.
Reminded me alot of the way Darryl Kile use to pitch.

[DEADEYE DICK]

Anybody watch the kid pitch last night???
WOW!

[Gaddy1]

Sure did. He has 4 pitches, and all are awesome. He has got some nasty stuff. Pitching against the pirates doesn't hurt either. Nice pictures.

[backcast]

Still looks like a change-up to me. Cool pictures.